News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Injury Sustained by Man Involved in Markham Collision
Case Number: 17-OVI-343
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the injury sustained by a 56-year-old man who was involved in a collision in Markham last month.
On November 21, 2017, a York Regional Police officer was directing traffic at the intersection of Yonge Street and Gamble Road due to the traffic lights not working. At approximately 1 p.m. – while eastbound and westbound traffic was moving freely through the intersection at the direction of the officer – a southbound vehicle drove into the intersection and was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound. The driver of the southbound vehicle was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Director Loparco said, “The evidence is clear that the officer’s conduct was not the cause of the man’s driving behavior. The officer was not at fault for the collision in question and certainly did not commit a criminal offence. Accordingly, this investigation has been terminated.”
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations